The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-09-10
INITIATED TOLSTOI.

"He who tries to emulate the ec- centric example of a great man is a 1 fool"
 This remark of contentious pretense was made by Prof. Jim Bromley, a gentleman well known on account of his learning and peculiar habits of ex- pertinent. While he was yet school boy he conceived the idea that he was designed to accomplish some sort of reformation, that he was to be the l leader in movement that would re- suit ill the social improvement of our much lectured and much bored hu- man family. His first break-for such his father termed it-was to secure a circuit riders commission. This would have been well enough had he pos sessed that persuasive and tremble- inspiring power of oratory without which a circuit-rider is doomed 10 wear mountain knit socks, horse blanket overcoat and an extremely cheap grade of shirts. Not possessing this ability, and, at the mourner's l bench, receiving the cold and dry eye of disregard when he beloved so i loudly for the warm and damp optic of conviction, he traded his sprightly horse for couple of young steers and began to devote himself to the "break- ing up" of "new ground" In this, however, he saw no reformation. He saw nothing but fatiguing labor and an ordinary quality of cornbread. He sold his steers, and gave himself up to such assiduous study that he was, some time afterward, chosen president of Fox Trot university. He held this position during several eventless years. and then, again realizing that he was creating no reform, he suddenly re- signed and left the neighborhood. Two years passed, and nothing was heard of him until the other day. when he suddenly appeared at Chunk Weaver's store, and made the remark which bristles at the beginning of this recital
 Why hello, professor, "cried Chunk, overturning nail- keg full of ax- han dles and seizing the professors hand.
 "Boys, how are you?" said the pro- lessor, as he went round shaking hands with his old friends.
 "Where have you been?" Chunk asked when the learned man had seated himself.
 Did you bring your reform along with you?" Jim Tom Story inquired.
 "Gentlemen," said the professor ''cease to overwhelm me, and I will I give you a clear-cut account of my self. After leaving here, with the reform idea still raging in my head, went to Alabama and having a little money, purchased a small weekly newspaper. Now was my hope be- ginning to show its bloom. began to throw all my learning into my newspaper, and though my editorials did not increase the circulation of the paper, yet I had the satisfaction oi knowing that they must leave dent in everything they struck. About this time l began to read Coun, Tolstoi, the great Russian novelist and philosopher of human ethics. Al though a man of wealth and high station, he put on the garb of peas ant and went around among the poor people as day laborer, charging noth- ing for his services, giving his work to first one and then another, and always appearing where he was most needed This made deep impression on me so deep, in fact, that, addressing my self, I said: Prof. Bromley, your IOdu to uSCiuihcsS; Auc AciSi ioA ohi reform is blazed out for you. Tol- stoi's mission is simply to show you the way. Your advantages here are unsurpassed. In this community there are hundreds of poor people who need your help; and wealthy people, whose kindness of heart will become gen. erous impulse when you touch it into life, will follow in your footsteps. Ysu will be . shepherd in a fold of